Sto. Niño festivities grab Pinoys' attention after 2-year hiatus

Streets in some major cities of the Philippines burst into festivities again during the Feast of the Sto. Niño (Holy Child Jesus) 2023, two years after the COVID-19 pandemic health protocols dampened the celebrations that traditionally seize the attention of Filipinos.

Super Radyo dzBB's tweets on Sunday, January 15, 2023 showed that  early in the morning on Sto. Niño feast day, Filipinos showed up at events venues in eager anticipation of the activities that would unfold throughout the day.

In Cebu City, which is celebrating the Sinulog-Santo Niño festival, people already lined the streets early in the morning to witness the various contingents for the Grand Parade.

WATCH: Mga pulis, nakabantay na sa paligid ng South Road Properties sa Cebu City para sa isasagawang Sinulog 2023 Grand Parade. | via Decemay Padilla, Super Radyo Cebu pic.twitter.com/8AJ86WNCm3

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 15, 2023

DETALYE: Mga kalahok at manoonod sa Sinulog Grand Parade sa Cebu City, nakaantabay na. | via Decemay Padilla, Super Radyo Cebu pic.twitter.com/7XerzblQFj

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 15, 2023

In Western Visayas, the beat of the drums blends right in the movements of the participants of the Ati-Atihan dance parade.

In Metro Manila, the Tondo Sto. Niño festivities started with an early morning Mass at the Sto. Niño de Tondo Church.

Photo by Danny Pata

Sto. Niño procession was the main event in Quezon City's Bago Bantay Church.

LOOK: Prusisyon ng Pista ng Sto. Niño, isinagawa sa Bago Bantay, Quezon City @dzbb pic.twitter.com/UmmKYn3InQ

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) January 15, 2023

Sto. Niño procession also highlighted the University of the Philippines, Diliman Campus celebration.

LOOK: Prusisyon para sa pagdiriwang ng Sto. Niño, isinagawa sa loob ng U.P. Diliman, Quezon City. | via @luisitosantos03 pic.twitter.com/siEDzLHnSz

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 15, 2023

Eve of Sto. Niño feast

On the eve of the Sto. Niño Feast, buildup activities were already undertaken.

[Read: After 2 years Sto. Nino festivals, Ati-Atihan, Sinulog in full swing]

In Kalibo, Aklan, residents lined the streets as an Ati-Atihan parade of men in black body paint and colorful costumes dancing to the beat of drums passed by, based on GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas report.

People shouted "Viva, Señor Sto. Niño" as an image of the Child Jesus was hoisted above the crowd.

In Cebu, more than a hundred boats joined the fluvial parade on Saturday morning transporting the image of the Sto. Niño from Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City back to Cebu City, according to videos posted by GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak on Facebook.

A big crowd welcomed the image of the Sto. Niño at Pier 1 in Cebu City. Archbishop Jose Palma accompanied the Sto. Niño on its journey, according to Balitang Bisdak reporter Fe Marie Dumaboc.

Meanwhile in Tondo, Manila, residents had images of the Sto. Niño included in a procession for the Sto. Niño de Tondo festival, according to a report by Jhomer Apresto on Super Radyo dzBB. —LBG, GMA Integrated News